Letters to Mail

[belinda63 3,046]

OK, spent the last two hours writing and editing a letter regarding my personal issues with the visa process as well as general issues with the visa process. Now, since it is almost midnight, I will sleep on it before I decide to mail them.

But here are my suggestions.

1. Require family visas to be issued within 180 days of the interview unless solid evidence of terrorist or criminal activity. (need i say why)

2. Revise the petition validity from four months to one year to prevent the embassy from having to request an extension every four months. (this is time they could spend working on our cases instead of requesting extensions).

3. Require family based visas be given priority at every stage of the process. (Right now students and temporary workers are expedited through the security checks while family visas sit and wait)

4. Require that once a clearance is completed that it remain valid for six months. (no more well he was cleared yesterday but today he is not, or no more well clearance X expired while we were waiting for clearance Z so now we must repeat X and now Y has expired).

Any suggestions as to whom to mail them? Other than the DOS and Homeland security. oh and the subcommittee on immigration?

[GabiandVi 34]

OK, spent the last two hours writing and editing a letter regarding my personal issues with the visa process as well as general issues with the visa process. Now, since it is almost midnight, I will sleep on it before I decide to mail them.

But here are my suggestions.

1. Require family visas to be issued within 180 days of the interview unless solid evidence of terrorist or criminal activity. (need i say why)

2. Revise the petition validity from four months to one year to prevent the embassy from having to request an extension every four months. (this is time they could spend working on our cases instead of requesting extensions).

3. Require family based visas be given priority at every stage of the process. (Right now students and temporary workers are expedited through the security checks while family visas sit and wait)

4. Require that once a clearance is completed that it remain valid for six months. (no more well he was cleared yesterday but today he is not, or no more well clearance X expired while we were waiting for clearance Z so now we must repeat X and now Y has expired).

Any suggestions as to whom to mail them? Other than the DOS and Homeland security. oh and the subcommittee on immigration?

Looks good to me. I would suggest sending it as an editorial to the NY Times or another newspaper.

Edited March 28, 2008 by GabiandVi

[tammy2688 1]

These things are not only necessary but utterly urgent for people who are suffering due to these matters. I especially agree VERY STRONGLY about extending the expiration. This is one of the main systematic reasons why people are stuck over the normal 4 months. My huband was telling me he heard on CNN that the House sent a bill indicating some of these issues. I understood from that update that small things are happenning, more and more people are being affected and people are beginning to care. I would suggest sending it to the congressman/senator/House, or the congressman can send it to the House for even some consideration. Immigration is such a huge issue right now and this is a huge issue as well. As this country becomes more international, more of a real melting pot, these laws affect the future and current votors who are very passionate about these huge problems. I mean if they can consider giving illegals their legal status then they will consider these small requests as well. I know what you mean about them thinking you are a terrorist...I know...but its clear we are not, nor do we ever in our life will bring harm into our home land. I know your case will not be hurt, Belinda, if you do this. These are things we all want, and it even hurts to bring it up sometimes. If anything, specify that the expiration should be extended, we don't want bad for our country so we are in aggreeance with the security checks (paid for them too in the IV bill) but the redoing is really really a painful process, so much paperwork and time wasted for them as well.

What was your last update? Even an e-mail from the embassy? Base this action of sending letters to senators/congressmen/DOS/Homeland security/House upon what you heard as well about your last update. But it is true, even if you and I get the visas in the near future, many many people will suffer in the future if something isn't done.

I keep seeing the USCIS giving updates on how it has eliminated many of the delays,etc. We cannot know if that is true but we must work on the AP/AR regulations. Send those letters, they will go somewhere and the worst that can happen is not much. I believe though, that you will get the visa soon.

Everyone who is waiting, you are all in my prayers.

I pray our spouses will reciever the visas in the coming days, weeks and months.

Tammy

[jade2004 0]

I LOVE THIS IDEA....definitely think you should send it...

[AlHayatZween 2]

OK, spent the last two hours writing and editing a letter regarding my personal issues with the visa process as well as general issues with the visa process. Now, since it is almost midnight, I will sleep on it before I decide to mail them.

But here are my suggestions.

1. Require family visas to be issued within 180 days of the interview unless solid evidence of terrorist or criminal activity. (need i say why)

2. Revise the petition validity from four months to one year to prevent the embassy from having to request an extension every four months. (this is time they could spend working on our cases instead of requesting extensions).

3. Require family based visas be given priority at every stage of the process. (Right now students and temporary workers are expedited through the security checks while family visas sit and wait)

4. Require that once a clearance is completed that it remain valid for six months. (no more well he was cleared yesterday but today he is not, or no more well clearance X expired while we were waiting for clearance Z so now we must repeat X and now Y has expired).

Any suggestions as to whom to mail them? Other than the DOS and Homeland security. oh and the subcommittee on immigration?

Looks good to me. I would suggest sending it as an editorial to the NY Times or another newspaper.

Wow! This looks great Belinda...

And i really like the idea of sending it to a newspaper. Check out how to submit an Op-Ed on the nytimes website.

[AlHayatZween 2]

And might i just add how much it really upsets me that work and student visas are expedited so much easier than family visas. And workers and students are most often the ones who overstay their visa terms! i knew all this, but reading this again put it fresh in my mind.....

[Nutty 2]

OK, spent the last two hours writing and editing a letter regarding my personal issues with the visa process as well as general issues with the visa process. Now, since it is almost midnight, I will sleep on it before I decide to mail them.

But here are my suggestions.

1. Require family visas to be issued within 180 days of the interview unless solid evidence of terrorist or criminal activity. (need i say why)

2. Revise the petition validity from four months to one year to prevent the embassy from having to request an extension every four months. (this is time they could spend working on our cases instead of requesting extensions).

3. Require family based visas be given priority at every stage of the process. (Right now students and temporary workers are expedited through the security checks while family visas sit and wait)

4. Require that once a clearance is completed that it remain valid for six months. (no more well he was cleared yesterday but today he is not, or no more well clearance X expired while we were waiting for clearance Z so now we must repeat X and now Y has expired).

Any suggestions as to whom to mail them? Other than the DOS and Homeland security. oh and the subcommittee on immigration?

1) I agree.

2) I agree.

3) I agree. (But you won't get far with this...students have school terms they could miss. Workers benefit the economy)

4) I was told by the Department of State rep the other day that Security Clearances are valid for six months already.

*I would suggest instead of just starting off your letter with recommendations, you precede it with a brief explanation of the problems you have encountered. Then follow up with your suggestions.

**Also detail how Embassy staff performed in the fiasco of making your fiance wait in Turkey without contacting him.

[Nutty 2]

OK, spent the last two hours writing and editing a letter regarding my personal issues with the visa process as well as general issues with the visa process. Now, since it is almost midnight, I will sleep on it before I decide to mail them.

But here are my suggestions.

1. Require family visas to be issued within 180 days of the interview unless solid evidence of terrorist or criminal activity. (need i say why)

2. Revise the petition validity from four months to one year to prevent the embassy from having to request an extension every four months. (this is time they could spend working on our cases instead of requesting extensions).

3. Require family based visas be given priority at every stage of the process. (Right now students and temporary workers are expedited through the security checks while family visas sit and wait)

4. Require that once a clearance is completed that it remain valid for six months. (no more well he was cleared yesterday but today he is not, or no more well clearance X expired while we were waiting for clearance Z so now we must repeat X and now Y has expired).

Any suggestions as to whom to mail them? Other than the DOS and Homeland security. oh and the subcommittee on immigration?

1) I agree.

2) I agree.

3) I agree. (But you won't get far with this...students have school terms they could miss. Workers benefit the economy)

4) I was told by the Department of State rep the other day that Security Clearances are valid for six months already.

*I would suggest instead of just starting off your letter with recommendations, you precede it with a brief explanation of the problems you have encountered. Then follow up with your suggestions.

**Also detail how Embassy staff performed in the fiasco of making your fiance wait in Turkey without contacting him.

CONTACT NYT and NPR...

[Nutty 2]

A good portal for government contacts.

http://www.shusterman.com/siu.html

Top bar has two icons "Goverment" and "waiting times" with drop down menus that links other webpages such as Congress, Administrative Appeals Office, DHS Ombudsman, etc, etc......

[Nutty 2]

Ombudsman

http://shusterman.com/cgi-bin/ex-link.pl?w...orial_0501.shtm

[AlHayatZween 2]

A good portal for government contacts.

http://www.shusterman.com/siu.html

Top bar has two icons "Goverment" and "waiting times" with drop down menus that links other webpages such as Congress, Administrative Appeals Office, DHS Ombudsman, etc, etc......

This is great, Nutty!

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

OK, spent the last two hours writing and editing a letter regarding my personal issues with the visa process as well as general issues with the visa process. Now, since it is almost midnight, I will sleep on it before I decide to mail them.

But here are my suggestions.

1. Require family visas to be issued within 180 days of the interview unless solid evidence of terrorist or criminal activity. (need i say why)

2. Revise the petition validity from four months to one year to prevent the embassy from having to request an extension every four months. (this is time they could spend working on our cases instead of requesting extensions).

3. Require family based visas be given priority at every stage of the process. (Right now students and temporary workers are expedited through the security checks while family visas sit and wait)

4. Require that once a clearance is completed that it remain valid for six months. (no more well he was cleared yesterday but today he is not, or no more well clearance X expired while we were waiting for clearance Z so now we must repeat X and now Y has expired).

Any suggestions as to whom to mail them? Other than the DOS and Homeland security. oh and the subcommittee on immigration?

Have you spoken to your senators office? The reason I am asking is that they can often help MORE than the congress man. First you need to fill out a freedom of information release ( ask their office for it) then make an appointment to speak directly to the person in charge at the office. The senate deals with Federal Offices. I am wondering who exactly you have spoken to for help with your case already

[belinda63 3,046]

Answer to senator question. Yes twice. All they do is email the consulate which gives them the same response they give me...he is in administrative processing and there is no way to predict how long it will take.

If you believe DOS he has been cleared about six times and then "uncleared" due to a name hit. With one of his names being Mohammadi and names being added to the terrorist watchlist at the rate of about 20,000 per month it is possible he will never be cleared unless someone with some common sense (remember this is the government) intervenes and manually clears him.

On to the letter.

It is three pages and three parts. First is my story, second is general problems with the process as I see it, third is solutions.

So far the mailing list is:

Sylvestre Reyes--previous critic of USCIS for slow processing

Oprah Winfrey

New York Times

LA times

Associated Press

Senator John Cornyn head of some committee dealing with immigration

Ron Lewis my congressman

Senator Levin sponsored the amendment for the FBI to improve security checks

Senator Edward Kennedy immigration committee

USCIS Ombudsman

Homeland Security

DOS

US Senate Subcommittee on immigration, border security, and citizenship

US Senate select committee on intelligence

US Senate subcommittee on oversight of Government Management

US House subcommittee on immigration

US House committee on Homeland Security

any other suggestions are welcome.